 Bedford was the first pilot to fly the Hawker P.1127, Kestrel, and Harrier.In addition to his land-based test pilot duties, he also pioneered the operation of V/STOL aircraft from a ship - the P.1127 on HMS "Ark Royal" in 1963.From 1968, he became the Sales Manager for Hawker Siddeley Aviation and later marketing manager when it became British Aerospace.